The Garden of the Soul - Le Jardinet de l'Ame

The Garden of the Soul - Le Jardinet de l'Ame

Hiding behind the term The Garden of the Soul is a gem of 16th century illumination, a wonderful devotional- / prayer booklet. The grandiose artistic furnishings of the small manuscript attest to the highest artistry. Originating from Amiens, France in 1569, the devotional book contains prayers to various saints and for multiple occasions alongside impressive miniatures and decorative frames. The variety of the motives employed visualizes the full splendor of illumination in France – with significant echoes from the great period of Flemish book art – and offers an extensive opportunity to immerse oneself in the in the art and piety of the 16th century.

Miniatures of the Highest Quality

Whether it is the impressive Saint Christopher with the Christ Child on his shoulders, the pious adoration in the stall in Bethlehem, or the rapt Mary Magdalen under the cross: the religious depictions could not be presented more forcefully than in the miniatures of The Garden of the Soul from Amiens. Many of the miniature pages are signed by Master AB Normand, who presents his art as a true master with these splendid attestations. The images are wonderfully bright and vigorously executed, and visualize moving figures and exceptionally finely designed sceneries. For example, consider the scene of the Annunciation with a buoyant angel amidst white clouds. The miniatures were accentuated through the skillful application of gold.

Ornamentation and Figure in the Highest Unification

This is found in the ample use as well as the exuberant decorative frames in both the text as well as the image pages. Whether floral ornamentation with flowers and fruits, animal and human figures, or architectural elements, everything coalesces into a real delight for the eyes of the beholder. The text pages opposite the miniature pages are adorned all over with historiated initials. Aside from that, on some pages there can be found small bas-de-page miniatures, in order to artistically fill an empty space. The exceptional quality of the participating artists is also evidenced by the miniatures in the great art of grisaille painting, which adorn some pages of the booklet.

A Testimony of Piety

The The Garden of the Soul probably served for private immersion in the prayers and the biblical images of the book. It stands in a tradition going back to the 1st century after Christ that saw God and Christ as “gardeners of the soul”. With the help of prayers, this garden of the soul could be tended. However, on page 171 there is a depiction which falls outside of the religious scope of the remaining furnishings: a portrait, perhaps that of the author? Additionally, the manuscript contains two prayers for the already deceased parents of the artist, Casimir Normand and Catherine Faroux. An additional name of a participating artists is found in the back of the book. There the Amiens bookbinder Tessier immortalized himself, who bound the gem of 16th century book art in wonderful dark-red leather.